What are we doing to navigate through this new uncertainty? And how can we protect the improvement in bookings we’ve seen lately? Here’s an update from our team.

With the discovery of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, the uncertainty that had been waning over recent months has returned to the travel industry. Travel operators are waiting to see what the effect will be on bookings.

Booking rates around the world

Travel to South Africa feel dramatically – 750 percent – almost overnight. But with many European countries and the USA imposing travel bans on up to eight South African countries, including South Africa, this was inevitable.

Meanwhile, bookings to the rest of the world have remained surprisingly strong. The swift action of the South African authorities to share what they know has enabled many countries to take pre-emptive actions and identify the few instances of the variant within their borders. This has helped to maintain travel confidence.

Furthermore, so far, countries haven’t reimposed wider travel bans. Travellers are expected to take pre-departure tests in many cases, but this is a manageable inconvenience for most.

As a result, while there has been a small drop off in bookings to Europe and the United States, the fall has not been as dramatic as seen previously.

Latest news on flights into the USA

So far, President Biden has implemented stricter travel rules but not made major changes to who can travel. This is great news for European visitors who have only recently had travel open back up to them.

The new rules mean that, from next week, all international travellers to the USA – including American citizens – must take a COVID-19 test one day before travel. This must be completed regardless of your vaccination status.

Furthermore, mask requirements on planes, buses and trains will be extended until mid-March.

We will keep an eye out on updates to the situation. At the moment, experts are still working to understand what the variations in Omicron will mean in terms of transmissibility and the seriousness of the effects. Until we know more, it is hard to predict what will happen in the short term, either in terms of travel restrictions being ramped up or relaxed or in terms of any effect on bookings.

We will keep you posted!

Strategies to boost booking

In the meantime, we will continue to be flexible in our approach to booking, so that we can maximise occupancy rates and revenues for you.

#1. Communicating clearly about the cleaning procedures we have in place

We’ve always been known for our immaculate cleaning procedures and we continue to emphasise this to guests, including detailing the enhanced cleaning procedures we’ve implemented during the pandemic.

#2. Contactless check-in

As well as enhanced cleaning regimes, we’re doing a few other things differently at the moment to shore up guest confidence. We continue to highlight these standards to ensure guest confidence when they stay at your property.

#3. Marketing to customers within driving distance

Local bookings have been really important throughout the last two years and we are continuing to look at new ways to reach this market. These bookings held strong even when flight restrictions were imposed, so they are an important part of building resilience in your rental income.

#4. Discounts for longer stays

With the increase in remote work holding strong for many people, this is opening the door for travellers to stay for longer. And who wouldn’t want to work poolside? Travellers can take their families away without needing to book extra vacation, so offering discounts for longer stays can be a good way to serve this market and boost occupancy.

#5. Lowering minimum night stays

We know this isn’t for everyone but lowering the minimum night requirement can help to boost bookings. For one, you’ll show up in a greater number of searches in the listing sites.

#6. Adaptive pricing

We’ve seen over the last year just how effective dynamic pricing can be in maximising bookings and revenue. Thank you for working with us on this over the last 12 months. Options include lowering your minimum price, increasing last-minute discounts and offering some special deals. We’ll continue to tweak our activities on this to ensure that we are maximising occupancy without jeopardising maximum rates.

Reach out to our team

If you have any concerns, or would like to talk through anything raised in this blog, please reach out to our team as normal.

Cindy Miller and her husband own a fantastic family vacation home on the Indian Wells community in Kissimmee. Her home has received some wonderful reviews over the past year – and she’s kindly agreed to share her experience on our blog.

“The first time we stayed in our Orlando home we rented it – because we were visiting Disney. My husband and I lived in Florida and we’d been going to the parks for a while, but we really stepped up our Disney trips once we’d had our son!” explains Cindy.

Soon afterwards, the homeowners at that time decided to put the three-bed, two-bath property on the market. They emailed all the guests on their mailing list with details of the sale. The news came at just the right time for Cindy and her husband.

She says, “It was the right opportunity at the right time. We lived 45 minutes away at that time, so we felt like it could be a good investment for us. The family who owned it were renting it out for vacation rentals already. And we were familiar with the home. We knew it was really close to Disney, so it was perfect.”

Choosing to buy the property

Because Cindy knew the home and its location, she felt very comfortable about purchasing it.

She says the features that guests love most about the home are:

• Proximity to the parks.
• It’s such great value – between $115 per night in low season to $145 over peaks seasons, such as the Christmas period. This is great value for families when compared to a hotel.
• It’s pet friendly.
• The pool.

“This house was just perfect, very clean and had everything you might need. Cindy was extremely helpful and on top of everything. The location is unbeatable! Everything you need is close by, grocery stores, gas station, restaurants, and the neighborhood was very clean and quiet. The pool was amazing, we were able to enjoy it everyday throughout our stay. Overall experience was amazing. Thank you for letting us stay in your house!!!”

When Cindy and her husband purchased the home in 2016, they chose to stay with the existing property manager. The previous homeowners had used them, so it made sense not to change too much.

However, Cindy says, “We were with that property management company for three or four years. Over that time, the service depreciated. Changing property managers seemed like a huge risk because we’d been with the existing company for a long time. However, I didn’t feel they shared my commitment to the guest experience.”

 Switching property managers was a tough decision

“I am part of several Facebook groups dedicated to Disney and sometimes questions about accommodation pop up,” Cindy explains. “I reached out to people on those groups and got a few recommendations, including for White Rose Villas property management.”

The family began investigating local property management companies and talking to the companies that had been recommended.

Cindy recalls, “One of the homeowners I’d spoken with had been through the ringer with their property management companies too and he told me White Rose Villas are the most professional company he’s worked with.”

“I definitely had concerns,” admits Cindy. “I’d only worked with the one property management company, so I was jumping into the unknown. I spoke with White Rose Villas at length and going with them felt like the right decision. Even so, I was worried about the sales situation: could they live up to their promises? And would their service also decline over time?”

Despite these concerns, Cindy and her husband knew it was time to move on. The service from the incumbent property management company had declined so much, she knew she couldn’t stay with them.   The transition process away from the incumbent property management company was a hurdle that Cindy was nervous to take on alone.  Cindy and White Rose Villas created a transition plan together, which was executed with full support and guidance from White Rose Villas. In 2020, the family successfully switched to White Rose Villas for the management of their vacation home.

“It was a tough decision, but there’s been a huge payoff,” Cindy says. “I’m so happy I made the change.”

Alignment on the issues that count

The key differences in the property management service delivery have been in communication and the general ethos.

Cindy explains: “Overall, White Rose Villas are 100% more professional. I’d say the value they place on guest satisfaction and happiness is on a par with me. With my previous property manager, I felt like I had to fight for the guest. With White Rose Villas, it’s the opposite. They put the guest at the heart of what they do too. As a result, we work much more smoothly as a team.”

She says that the White Rose Villas team quickly helped her overcome any reservations she had about making the switch.

“They earned my trust. And they maintained that trust by keeping the lines of communication open. They tell me about issues. And they help me resolve them quickly. If I ever raise anything with White Rose Villas, someone will be over there the same day or the next day having that facetime with the guest and fixing it. They are attentive. They have the right staff to understand the issue and what needs to be done. And they execute on that plan and make sure the guests are satisfied.”

Managing from a distance

Cindy has now moved out of state. Instead of being 45 minutes away, she is now several states away. Not being able to attend the property herself in the case of an emergency has made the relationship with her property management company even more important for Cindy.

“The White Rose Villas service has definitely been consistently positive,” Cindy says. “If anything, I have more trust in them now. I turn to them for advice – and 99% of the time, I go with what they recommend.”

She lists the main benefits of making the switch as:

• Maintenance: White Rose Villas are really on top of the cleanliness and the repairs and the aesthetics – and that’s really important to guests.
• Communication: It’s always timely and thorough for me and my guests.
• Representation of our home as a brand: White Rose Villas are always friendly and professional and I feel like we are on the same page.

“Bringing money in isn’t part of the dynamic for me,” Cindy explains, “because I market the home myself on VRBO. I do a lot of my own bookings. Because they are mostly local, we’ve seen a steady occupancy, even through the pandemic.”

“It was a great stay! Our son loved the pool so much he asked if we could take it home with us! It’s very convenient to many shops and outlets and a very easy Uber/Lyft ride to any of the Disney parks! Cindy was wonderful in her communication and the house felt very Covid safe!”

Excellent feedback

Cindy is a super host on VRBO. Her home now has a 4.7 star rating on the website.

“I have 72 reviews and most of them are five star,” Cindy says. “It has been a turnaround from what I was hearing from guests prior to switching. Things are now perfect and kept to the standards I expect. I feel like I can sleep well at night, even though I live many states away. My guests are now free to focus on having a good time and creating great memories.”

See more of Cindy’s home here.

There’s no getting away from it: the travel industry has taken a hammering during COVID.  Bookings are down.  International flights are flying at a tiny fraction of the rate they did this time last year.  And the quarantine measures being implemented by governments around the world are stifling demand still further.

As vacation homeowners, I know that you have experienced for yourselves just how different 2020 has been as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.  Homes that were booked back-to-back for months on end are suddenly experiencing booking rates that have dropped through the floor.  For the first time I can remember, we’ve got homes with availability over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays with less than two months to go.

However, there have been some success stories too.  We’ve managed to keep on going, supporting you right through the pandemic, checking on your homes, and keeping things ticking over.  The best results have been achieved by homeowners who’ve been willing to be flexible about how they market their homes and the rates they achieve. So I think its useful to spend some time considering how we can learn from these experiences and help every homeowner to be successful moving forwards.

The new travel trends

Earlier this month, luxury travel magazine Conde Nast Traveller published its list of the travel trends that will become the new normal. 

• The staycation surge: there’s been a huge rise in the number of people staying in country for their vacations this year.
• Sustainability paradoxes: less travel means better air quality and more space for wildlife, but how long will it last?
• Wilderness seeking: we’re all longing for the great outdoors after months of lockdown and this is being reflected in our holiday choices.
• Isolation holidays: the trend for quarantine hideouts has to count as one of the most surprising of the year, but parents seeking quiet places to work and locals desperate for a change of scenery are also driving up demand for short-stay isolation.
• Dream trip planning: Conde Nast are predicting a huge surge as a result of pent-up demand for travel after the drawn-out restrictions we’re all dealing with right now.

The great news is that in Central Florida, we’re really well placed to capitalise on all these types of traveller demand.

Adapting to the new types of traveller

In terms of staycations, this is our biggest market right now.  Many people inside Florida are looking for a change of scenery.  The idea of lounging by the pool while observing social distancing restrictions is a real win for our homes.  We’re also getting bookings for people travelling from outside state who are attracted to Florida for the same reasons and the warmer weather.

In terms of sustainability, we will have to wait and see how this affects demand.  Governments around the world are keen to get the airline sector operating fully again because of its contribution to their national economies.  Conde Nast suggests that when things do start to reopen fully, carbon offsetting is going to be the solution.

Florida is amazingly well placed to capitalise on the wilderness-seeking trend.  Many of our homes look out onto conservation areas and there is plenty of wonderful wildlife spotting opportunities to be enjoyed right on their doorstep. Florida has the fifth largest number of state parks of all states in the country, with 191 parks statewide.

Isolation holidays are on the up.  Tales abound of hotels replacing their revenues by accommodating worn-out parents during working hours who need a quiet place where they can practice social isolation and get through their workday.  There are opportunities for vacation homeowners here too.  Investing in a home printer, upgrading the WiFi and adding a desk into one of the bedrooms can all make a big difference to your home’s marketability to this growing segment of customers.

Then there’s the dream-trip planning… the Disney dream family vacation is right up there for dream trips.  We need to continue to market to our customer base so they keep pushing their dream Disney holiday to the top of their wish list.  We have some bookings for 2021 already and, with the Master Cancel guarantee we are now offering on all holidays booked through our booking partner Ellis Exclusive Villas, we can offer considerable peace of mind for guests.

What can vacation homeowners do on a local level?

While it’s interesting to note these changing trends – and Conde Nast’s list certainly aligns with our own experience – what does it mean in practice?  How can Orlando vacation homeowners adapt to meet the demands of these new markets?

Number one: be flexible.  Things are in flux right now.  And even though news of a vaccine is really positive, things are still very fluid.  Homeowners need to be prepared to adapt.  This might mean relaxing rules about the types of bookings you’re prepared to accept.  Or it might mean being flexible about the rates you offer.  It’s a buyer’s market out there right now and you don’t want to lose out on a four-night booking for the sake of $30 a night.

The local market is different.  People travelling locally may want to stay for shorter periods.  The two-week or three-week vacations of European travellers just isn’t going to happen at the moment.  While Europeans, on average, enjoy 25 days paid vacation leave per year, their American counterparts are lucky if they have 10 days – and many aren’t expected to take advantage of it, either.  Understand that local travellers who are desperate for a change of scenery or just want to laze poolside for a couple of days are only going to book up for two or three nights.  At the moment, these bookings don’t raise the same red flags about house parties they used to and this does require a rethink.

Parents might want to book a home with a pool for a special weekend for their child’s birthday.  If parties are out, a day in the pool looks like a great option.  Or couples might want a night away together – with restaurants closed, the prospect of a poolside barbeque a deux sounds staggeringly romantic.  There a plenty of good reasons to accept single-night bookings, so let’s celebrate them!

The ultimate endpoint of this rethink is to be open to letting homes for just a day.  We’ve successfully let a couple of our homes on day rates for businesspeople who wanted to use them during the day.  These guests pay the same cleaning fees, so homeowners haven’t lost out and the homes were immaculate when we went in to clean.  This is so contrary to the usual market in Florida, it’s a little hard to get used to at first.  But in this market, we all have think a bit more creatively.

Attracting business guests is a great idea.  Plus, if you can add printers and office equipment, it makes it a lot easier for isolating families to decamp to your home.  Parents can continue to work, while the kids have a pool and games room to enjoy.

Another way to increase bookings is to widen out your market to include pet owners. Local travellers are more likely to bring their pet with them, so marketing your home as pet friendly gives you a big advantage in the local market.

If you’d like to speak with our team about different approaches to take when marketing your home, please give us a call.  We’re always happy to talk through the experiences of other homeowners and how we can learn from them in the way we market or let your home.

Alternatively, if you have any thoughts or advice you’d like to share with fellow homeowners, please share them here.  It’s always great to hear about what’s worked – or hasn’t worked – for you. 

We’re so pleased to bring you a new blog post from one of our homeowners. They have written a fantastic guide to cycling in Central Florida for us. Over to them…

On the trail in Florida: a cyclist’s paradise

One of the joys of spending time in Florida is going outside at pretty much any time of year without having to put on layers of clothing.

For those among you who love nothing more than feeling the wind in your helmet, there are now so many places to get out on your bike in safety. And they offer some pretty good scenery to enjoy as well. 

Cycling local

I started off local while just getting used to a new bike bought from Epic Cycles in Clermont.  I started getting back to more regular cycling after a few long, cold and dark months in the UK.

Initially, I just pedalled round our sub-division, Orange Tree, where the roads are quiet. It’s possible to do a circuit of 7.2km/4.5miles – route here.

I then went further afield, following the route of the SR27 cycle lane.  Insider tip: cycle on the sidewalk not the SR27 cycle lane itself, as that looked pretty dirty – a puncture waiting to happen, as well as being very close to a lot of fast-moving traffic.

If you would like to check out this route, you can find it here.

Branching out

These local routes are great, but for the best scenery, you need to stow your bike in/on your car and drive to the truly quiet, safe and beautiful Trails. You’ll find there are plenty of places to park at the trailheads, which are about every 10 miles along the trail. 

There are over 100 trails in Florida,  and you can find them all on this website grouped into 9 Regions, all with Regional overview maps.  They’ve recently added reports on (fat-tyre) “eco-biking” and hiking trails.

South Lake Trail and the West Orange Trail

Some of the best trails in the Central Florida region include the South Lake Trail and the West Orange Trail. These intersect to create a route of 36 miles of continuous Central Florida biking through Lake and Orange Counties.

This was the route I took.

Portions of the 13-mile-long South Lake Trail near Clermont are particularly scenic, with views along Lake Minneola and other lakes.

West Orange Trail is a world-class rail trail through urban and suburban sections of Orange County. It is popular for all types of biking, in-line skating, running and walking. “Outposts” and “Stations” along the trail provide parking and facilities. There are toilets along the way.

A spur at Killarney Station connects to the South Lake Trail. Both of these trails are part of the Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail.  You can see the route I took here.

One of the glorious towns on the route is Oakland. Here, venerable old trees around the town are draped in Spanish moss. There are several historic buildings to admire and you can cycle down side streets to view Lake Apopka.

The next stop is the little town of Winter Garden. This gets busy at weekends. Nevertheless, the trail goes right through its centre. The bike trail has completely revitalized downtown, which now features at least two bike shops and numerous restaurants. The trail runs through the Clock Tower and past the Pavilion.

The Hancock Trail

Another of my favourite routes is the Hancock Trail.

This starts near the National Training Center at South Lake Hospital. It hosts Olympic athletes and provides Triathlon Training for athletes from around the country.

The Hancock Trail even boasts a hilly area (well, hilly by Floridian standards!). People come from a long way away to ride this trail.  Sugarloaf Mountain Rd is the highest point in the area. One possible start/finish point for the route is Killarney Station, Clermont. 

More information about the routes can be found here. Alternatively, this can be a continuation from the north end of Hancock Trail.

I cycled pretty much every day when we were in Florida during January and February and I can’t wait until we are able to come back and discover more.

If you don’t have your own bicycle…

If you don’t have a bike, there’s no reason to miss out!

Our home is about 14 miles south of the beautiful town of Clermont, which is situated on Lake Minneola and has lovely places to shop, walk and yes, cycle.  I recommend the Epic Cycles bike shop, right on the waterfront, with a very pleasant café and bike sales aplenty, (as we discovered!) and extremely helpful staff.

If you need to rent a bike, try Clermont Bicycles.  They have high-quality road bike and comfort bike rentals by the half day, day and week.

Thank you!

We’d like to thank our home owner for this fantastic cycling guest blog post.

Halloween might be a little scaled back this year in Orlando’s theme parks, but you can still scream yourself silly in these haunted houses and ghost tours around Orlando this Halloween! 

Here’s the White Rose Villas team’s pick of some of the scariest tours you can take in or around Orlando this Halloween season.

Walking ghost tour of downtown Orlando

Walking around the city is usually a lot of fun, but on this tour you need to be prepared to feel a little uneasy!  You’ll hear tales of the criminal underworld, the leylines on which the city was built and all kinds of tales about Orlando’s supernatural history!

The walking tour takes in a range of spooky and scary stories at eight locations around the city.  You can expect to cover approximately a mile’s walk over a 60-minute tour.

There is also a slightly longer option that takes in a further four locations… if you can stand four more spooky stories!  If so, the tour is 90-minutes and covers 1.3 miles.

Find out more

Drive-through scare-fest

This year, social distancing has upended everyone’s social plans – but not always for the worse.  This drive-through Halloween theatrical event is one of the better innovations to emerge from the pandemic situation.

You can safely get your spooks and scares following a completely contactless journey in your own vehicle. The theme is Rapunzel’s journey… so expect things to get a little hair-raising!

The drive-through runs from September 25 through to November 7, 2020.  Please note: like most outdoor theatrical events, the drive-through event is weather dependent – so be prepared for a last minute cancellation if conditions get too inclement.

Find out more

All-year round haunted house

You probably know that, although Universal Orlando’s traditional Halloween celebrations aren’t running this year, you can tour two of the haunted house attractions from Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights within the normal park admission.  But did you know that Orlando has a haunted house attraction that runs all year round?

Mortem Manor is located on West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway in Old Town Kissimmee.  The spooky attraction tells the tale of mysterious disappearance of a family and includes more than a few scares along the way! 

Tickets start at just $15 so it is a really affordable way to get your Halloween haunted house fix!

Find out more

Book your Orlando vacation!

If you fancy visiting any of these haunting Halloween attractions, or any of the other special Halloween and fall events in Orlando this year, there is still availability for you to book a short stay at one of our vacation homes. 

Book with our booking partner Ellis Exclusive Villas and you’ll be protected by their cancellation guarantee.  Cancel for any reason between 60 days and 2 days before your departure and you will receive a full refund on all monies paid.

If you can’t get away this year, why not book for 2021? 

We’re going to all be wearing a different type of mask this Halloween. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of seasonal fun to enjoy!

Here’s our round up of things to enjoy this fall in and around Orlando and Central Florida.

Remember that, given the current need for COVID-secure procedures, most events require you to book online in advance. You’ll also need to adhere to social distancing rules and wear a mask.

If you have any queries or concerns ahead of your visit, please contact the venue or organiser directly.

Halloween Fun in Orlando’s theme parks

In the parks, many events have been scaled back or cancelled (notably Mickey’s not-so-scary-Halloween Party and Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights).

Nevertheless, Universal has plenty of Halloween themed décor, merchandise and trick or treating to enjoy.  Plus, there are two Haunted House attractions to get your fear fix!

Disney is also ratcheting up the Halloween-themed goodies, sweet treats and décor around the Magic Kingdom.  Your little ones can still enjoy plenty of themed character meet and greets and scaled-back parades.

SeaWorld’s Spooktacular is continuing this year, with changes to the trick or treating to enable better safety and social distancing, as well as other special themed activities around the park.

Halloween Fun in Orlando and Central Florida

Away from the parks, we’re delighted that some of our favourite low-key fall events are running this year.  Lakeridge Winery is known for its family-friendly events as much as its delicious wines and tasting tours, and from October 3^rd and 4^th, it’s bringing back its Weekends at the Winery events. This year, its featuring some of the area’s best food trucks along with the outdoor wine bar.

Enjoy some great food and wine under the trees, then try your luck at the cornhole games set up for some outdoor fun. The winery’s beautiful grounds offer plenty of outdoor space so you can enjoy a safe, social distance as you sip! See more information here.

Gatorland’s Gators, Ghosts, and Goblins is a daytime Halloween event taking place weekends from October 10^th through November 1^st.

Costumes are encourage for this family-friendly event with spooky train rides, costume contests, and a trick-or-treat trail from 11am to 2pm. There’s also Frank & Stein’s Octoberfest, featuring an undead polka band and German Beer and food. Note that face masks are required per Orange County Executive Order # 2020-23 regarding COVID 19, and must be visible at all times (you can find out more about Gatorland’s safe reopening policy on its website).

Book tickets in advance – there’s a half-price deal for Florida residents through October 31^st. Halloween activities are included in the normal admission.

For a really rural take on the fall festival, Our Fall events at Southern Hill Farms in Clermont began on Saturday, September 26^th and continue until November 8^th (Thursday to Sunday).

Events feature live music, local food trucks, Farm Wagon rides, and Southern Hill Farms seasonal favourites including fresh apple cider donuts, blueberry lemonade and pumpkin muffins. While adults tuck in or cut a bouquet of beautiful sunflowers and zinnias, kids will adore the petting zoo and playground. Then pick out your perfect Jumbo Jack pumpkin for carving.

To help ensure safe social distancing, this year’s events are going ahead with 40 percent of normal capacity.  You’ll need to book in advance here.

At Orlando’s CityArts, 39 S Magnolia Avenue, you can take part in a wonderful outdoor art event on Thursday, October 15, 2020.  The 11th Annual Dia de los Muertos and Monster Event is a themed exhibition at CityArts Orlando and an outdoor experience with live performances, vendors, and more! Now in its 11^th year, the Día de los Muertos & Monster Art Exhibitions will showcase Day of the Dead and Halloween-inspired art created by regional, national, and international artists. This unique art exhibition will be paired with an outdoor experience on opening night that will feature food, drinks, entertainment and spooky art vendors.

Cost to enter CityArts only: $5

Cost of the Outdoor Dining Experience $35-$40 per person/seat

It is essential to book in advance and you can do this online.

Note that all guests will be required to wear a face covering, but guests may remove their face coverings if they are clearly eating or drinking outside CityArts.  All guests are required to register for a time-of-entry; only 20 people are permitted at a time.  For more details about CityArts’ COVID-19 Reopening Protocol, visit https://downtownartsdistrict.com/covid-19/.

There’s plenty more happening besides, these are simply our pick.  We’d love to hear your suggestions for fun fall or Halloween events – add your comments and suggestions below!

Or, if you’d like to write a review for our blog, please get in touch with our team.

We’re delighted to bring you a new post from our very own Sue Mooney.

Cassadaga is well known here in Florida as “the Psychic capital of the world”. In fact, there are  more than 100 mediums, psychics, and healers in Cassadaga.

The sleepy little town is home to the Southern Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp, the oldest active religious community in the southeastern United States. It celebrated its 200th anniversary last year, in 2019.

A day out in Cassadaga by Sue Mooney

Cassadaga was founded in 1894 by the spiritualist George P. Colby, a native New Yorker who travelled the country delivering readings and hosting seances. 

It’s about half an hour’s drive from the Kissimmee area and Orlando’s theme parks in Volusia county. As you drive east on the I4 towards the Atlantic coast, you’ll pass an unassuming blink-and-you’ll-miss-it turnoff to this magical little town.

The name of the town comes from a Seneca Indian word meaning “water beneath the rocks”. The story is that Colby was guided to this site by a native American guide.

For a complete break from the frantic rides of Florida’s theme parks, I recommend you go and visit this gem of a small town. As soon as you arrive, you are transported to a much older version of the State than you will find elsewhere.

Peace really does wrap around you as soon as you step out of your car. You can explore the small roads, admire the old-fashioned but pretty little wooden houses, sit in the meditation gardens and absorb the stillness.

The Psychic capital of the world

Cassadaga is renowned for its spirituality and there are many healers and psychics here, all of whom have gone through a four year certification process. If this is something you wish to explore further you can book in advance or choose a walk-in on the day you go.

The readings we received were accurate and moving.

There’s a well stocked welcome centre, with a huge variety of books, cards, crystals, jewellery, etc. Everyone is helpful and welcoming. Finding the crystals we were looking for was a joy and prices are very reasonable.

Lunch at the Cassadaga Hotel

For lunch we ate in the Cassadaga Hotel. Lovely, fresh food, prepared while you wait. Our burgers and fries were delicious. Cooked just as we asked them and reasonably priced.

There’s quite an extensive menu, though we couldn’t quite bring ourselves to try Arthur’s Burger (see the menu for details!)

We came away from our trip to Cassadaga feeling peaceful and re-energised and would thoroughly recommend a visit to anyone looking for a different side to Florida.

About Sue’s home

If you’d like to book your stay in Florida to enjoy a visit to Cassadaga and its spiritualist camp or any of central Florida’s other wonderful attractions, please check out our homes here.

Sue’s home is the very wonderful Sapphire Sky Villa at Orange Tree.  See more – and book – here.

Would you like to share your tips for great days out in Florida?

We’d love to share contributions from our guests and homeowners about great days out in Florida.  If you have tips or ideas you’d like to share on our blog, please reach out to our team. 

White Rose Villas property management is continually reviewing ways to help us improve occupancy rates for you, our homeowners.

The pandemic has been tough on us all.  The added economic pressures of not being able to rent out your vacation home due to COVID’s impact on the global travel industry has made the crisis all the tougher.

Helping you by helping guests

We know one of the reasons that bookings have been down is because of the uncertainty that characterises so much international travel at the moment.  The switch to local lockdowns is now impacting national travel patterns as well.

For this reason, White Rose Villas has been reviewing options on your behalf to give your guests increased confidence when booking.

After considerable research, we’ve decided to partner up with a company called Master Cancel through our sister vacation marketing company Ellis Exclusive Villas.  This agreement with Master Cancel will give your guests flexible cancellation protection when they book through Ellis Exclusive Villas.

It’s an important step forward to help you protect your rental income.

What does the cover include?

The Master Cancel agreement reimburses property managers for cancellations made for any reason (barring war or terrorism), provided the cancellation is requested between 60 and 2 days before the check-in date.

A deduction is made for 10% of the value of the booking – unless the property rebooks, in which case, there is no deductible.

This means we are able to pass on to you, our homeowners, either 90 percent or 100 percent of the full value of the booking – so you aren’t out of pocket when a guest cancels.

Essentially, the scheme is designed to reassure guests that there is no reason to delay or put off their booking, as they won’t lose out financially – whatever happens.  In this way, we hope that – with this added guest reassurance – we can boost occupancy rates as well as help by protecting your rental income.

How does it work?

There is a five percent surcharge for all bookings covered by the Master Cancel agreement.

To qualify, the booking must meet certain criteria:

• The booking must be made through Ellis Exclusive Villas
• The booking must be agreed in dollar payments
• A 25 percent deposit must be taken upon booking.

We appreciate that you may be taking direct bookings from friends and family but, in order to qualify for the scheme, each booking does need to be made through Ellis Exclusive Villas.

Deciding whether to put family bookings through the scheme

Ellis Exclusive Villas charges merchant account fees of between three to eight percent of the cost of the payment (depending on the payment card used) and this will need to be added to the cost of your family or friends’ holiday in addition to the five percent Master Cancel charge.

This means, in total, your friends and family will be paying a premium of between eight and thirteen percent on the cost of the booking.  This is something you will need to discuss together to decide whether the additional peace of mind is worth this extra fee.

It’s totally up to you, of course.

What about other bookings?

It’s important to note that bookings made through tour operators will not be covered by this scheme.  So if your home is booked out by James Villas, or any of the other tour operators we work with, and then that booking is cancelled, the compensation won’t be paid.

Only those bookings taken via Ellis Exclusive Villas with a 25 percent dollar deposit paid at the time of booking will be covered.  The main idea is that, together, we’ll be able to drive more bookings for your home through the Ellis Exclusive Villas site.  Ultimately, this should help to boost your occupancy rates through these difficult times.

For more information about the scheme, or to talk about extending the cover to bookings you are taking directly, please reach out to our team.

As always, we value your thoughts and feedback.

Are you looking for a property management partner in Central Florida?

Please complete the form below if you would like the White Rose Villas team to contact you about the options for our team to manage your vacation property in the Orlando area.

We’re delighted to bring you another post by our homeowner, Ruth Moriarty.

Ruth loves sharing her insider tips for places to visit in Central Florida beyond the theme parks. In this post, she shares her passion for local vineyard, Lakeridge Winery.

Lakeridge Winery, Florida

Lakeridge Winery and Vineyard is on Highway 27, just north of Clermont.

It is a wonderful place to visit for many reasons.  Yes, wine and wine tasting are definitely up there but it is such a peaceful spot. 

Located on a 127-acre estate in gently rolling countryside some 25 miles west of downtown Orlando, it’s lovely to just go and sit and enjoy the peace and quiet. The winery opened in 1989 and has gracefully developed over the 20 years I have been visiting.  They now produce over 1 million bottles a year and win lots of awards.

Initially, I had no idea that Florida produced wines and so it was a very pleasant surprise to find this not far from my home.

Touring the winery and finding out how they make their wine is really interesting and then, especially on a hot day, it’s lovely to enter the cool, dark tasting room and the good sized gift shop, which features all the Lakeridge Wines, gourmet foods and many other gift items and wine accessories.

You can update your cork screw, bottle cooler, wine glasses but also laugh at the customized, fun T-shirts (I now have two!) and hats/caps, as well looking through a variety of cookery books and wine reference guides.

This is one of my Tees – it always brings a smile when I wear it!

Complimentary Winery tours and wine tasting are offered 7 days a week; Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Please note, there are some ID Requirements for Tastings: US citizens: will need to bring with them their state-issued driver’s licence, military ID, or state ID card. International guests will need to bring their original passport (this is preferred) or valid government-issued photo ID which includes your date of birth.

Lakeridge Winery is also famous for its food and music events. Throughout the year there are regular events, usually at weekends, often for free or for a very modest entrance fee.

Every Saturday afternoon in January, they hold a Music Series, with live music on the outdoor stage and inside at the Wine & Cheese Bar upstairs. The musicians selected are all fantastic local performers. February sees the return of the Winefest, an opportunity to enjoy a range of the wines they produce. March is the annual Wine and Seafood festival – great food and music and…OK… some wine too.

In February 2020 I went to a Blues gig at the Winefest, out in the open, with the incredible backdrop of the vines and the beautiful building, people singing and dancing to a top musician who once played with BB King.

People had taken their own chairs and some had small picnics, though there were plenty of food stalls and bars. There was also a local arts and craft fair to wander around if you needed to stretch your legs and spend a little money on some very interesting and beautiful items – definitely not your everyday purchases or souvenirs.  It was also good to be contributing to the local economy.

Sadly some of their Festivals and events for 2020 had to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 restrictions implemented by the State of Florida but I am sure they will be reinstated as soon as it is allowed and people can attend safely. The winery has a projected programme available, with artists and prices to be decided.

It’s a great day out, especially if there is an event going on.  Parking is free and there are free shuttle carts to get you from your car to the main building when events are on. I’ve been there when it’s very quiet as well as when there are crowds who’ve come to enjoy the music. I’ve always enjoyed it and am hoping I will be back there in 2021.

For more information, visit the Lakeridge Winery website.

Cheers and Good Health!

About Ruth’s home

If you’d like to book your stay in Florida to enjoy a visit to Lakeridge Winery or any of central Florida’s other wonderful attractions, please check out our homes here.

Ruth’s home is the very wonderful Sapphire Sky Villa at Orange Tree.  See more – and book – here.

Would you like to share your tips for great days out in Florida?

We’d love to share contributions from our guests and homeowners about great days out in Florida.  If you have tips or ideas you’d like to share on our blog, please reach out to our team. 

We’re delighted to bring you another blog by our homeowner Ruth Moriarty.

Winter Park is a gem of a town which Ruth wrote about in one of her earlier blogs for us.

She says one of Winter Park’s hidden gems is this unassuming museum and definitely recommends a visit.

The Charles Hosmer Museum of American Art in Winter Park

The Charles Hosmer Museum of American Art is also known as the Morse Museum.

It harbours some true treasures if you like Tiffany. Not the little blue boxes of wonderful jewellery Tiffany, but the art, glass and leaded lamps, created by Louis Comfort Tiffany – isn’t that just the best name! – (1848–1933), the jeweller’s son.  

The museum is a quiet, dark, cool place – old fashioned, a bit of a rabbit warren but there are plenty of maps to orientate yourself.  Each gallery has brochures to fully explain about the exhibits and everyone who works there is very helpful. You can take photos as long as you don’t use flash or video.  You can easily spend all morning or afternoon there – there is no rush and just allow yourself time to stand and absorb the beauty of the exhibits. I was there for about three hours one afternoon and could have stayed longer. The Tiffany collection is truly amazing, including every medium he worked in, from every period of his life.

The Morse Museum’s Tiffany artworks

I kept going back to a stunning piece of leaded glass called Aurora which was created around 1894. The colours are so vibrant and the artistry is amazing. 

Some door panels created around 1905 feature a full-sized statue behind them – it’s like looking into a garden.

Of the vases, one was a gorgeous piece of lustre. It is like silk as it catches the light!

The museum also houses an iconic Tiffany Wisteria Lamp.  It is really incredible to see close up; the leaded glass looks like fabric that has been draped.  This piece is absolutely stunning and was made around 1910.

The pieces are made with each piece of glass cut individually and put on a template.  During your visit to the museum, you can watch a short video showing you how the artworks are made.

The treasures of the Morse Museum

Inside the museum is Tiffany’s chapel interior from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.  It is stunning, the work is so intricate and the lighting makes it look as if it is on exterior walls, except it isn’t. It’s simply beautiful to admire or just to sit quietly.

I was intrigued to see how Tiffany went from painting such a glorious image he did below in about 1888 to recreating it in a glass window about 1892– both pieces are mesmerising.

The Museum also contains American art, pottery, furniture, late 19th- and early 20th-century American paintings, which are equally as fascinating. This includes vases painted from photographs of Native Americans in the late 19^th/ early 20^th Century.

Best moment of the visit? Here’s one of my favourite selfies – myself reflected in a Tiffany mirror.

Morse Museum shop

The shop is last but certainly not least.  Some amazing things to buy there from puzzles, pens and calendars to jewellery, tea towels, clothes, caps and umbrellas.  It’s a great place to find a wide range of very unusual souvenirs for a good range of prices.

About your visit to the Morse Museum

$6 Adults
$5 Seniors age 60 and older
$1 Students (with valid ID)

Free for children younger than 12
All visitors free 4:00 pm–8:00 pm Fridays (November through April)

I came away feeling uplifted by having seen so many beautiful things.  It’s well worth a visit and a great alternative to the parks.

About Ruth’s home

If you’d like to book your stay in Florida to enjoy a visit to Winter Park and the Morse Museum or any of central Florida’s other wonderful attractions, please check out our homes here.

Ruth’s home is the very wonderful Sapphire Sky Villa at Orange Tree.  See more – and book – here.

Would you like to share your tips for great days out in Florida?

We’d love to share contributions from our guests and homeowners about great days out in Florida.  If you have tips or ideas you’d like to share on our blog, please reach out to our team.